Itâ€™s great fun and really really great scotch. Cheers to the Wench! Sheâ€™s an absolute gem.

REVIEW – IRISH ABROAD WEIGHS IN

Over at the Irish Abroad site, they’ve posted a roundup of reviews on recent Irish and Celtic books. This includes a really nice piece on Bill Watknis’ Once and Future Celt:

When Bill Watkinsâ€™ first memoir A Celtic Childhood was released almost a decade ago, the world was awash in Frank McCourt-mania, so Watkinsâ€™ book might have slipped under the radar, dismissed as â€œjust another Irish memoir.â€ But Watkinsâ€™ book, about growing up in England and Ireland with a Welsh father and Irish mother, was infused with humor and poignancy. He has now written another memoir, entitled The Once and Future Celt, which recounts time Bill spent in his early 20s with Romany Gypsies (including his efforts to woo a forbidden girl), as well as his efforts to find employment in Birmingham, England, and his fatherâ€™s decision to offer up some juicy family secrets. Watkins is among the best of many people these days who are exploring the nature of Celtic â€“ as opposed to strictly Irish â€“ identity.